Home of the Sharks, Kyrene de la Esperanza Elementary School seeks to provide a “positive and engaging learning environment that promotes student achievement and inspires success in every student.”

The pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade school has more than 600 students currently enrolled and is one of the 12 schools within the Kyrene School District located in Ahwatukee Foothills.

Principal Cheryl Greene said the school’s mission and core values “serve as our anchor amidst the changing landscape of our school community and that of our greater society. They help us remain a ‘neighborhood school,’ not in terms of where our families live, but in a nostalgic way.”

For more information, visit the district website at kyrene.org or call Esperanza at (480) 541-2800.

Keystone Montessori

Keystone Montessori has come a long way since its founding in 1995. Back then it was operated out of the founder’s home before eventually moving on to rent rooms from Horizon Presbyterian Church. It was only in 2000 that they had gained a strong enough enrollment to move into the facility where they currently reside on Liberty Lane, just off Desert Foothills Parkway and across from the Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA.

The school services students as young as 18 years old, as part of their toddler program, and as old as ninth-graders. The current enrollment is around 320 students, who all have access to Spanish, music and arts programs in addition to the full Montessori curriculum.

“We provide an authentic Montessori education which focuses on the independence and whole development of the child, including academic as well as social and emotional growth,” said head of school Cindy Maschoff. “We want our students to become independent citizens of the world.”

The school will be taking the time to present the concept of Montessori education to the public Jan. 29 and 30. At the presentations the school will provide a clear understanding of what Montessori education looks like at each level of education. Those wanting to attend should plan on going to both meetings, with the Jan. 29 meeting going from 6-7 p.m. and the Jan. 30 meeting from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The meetings require attendees to RSVP, which can be done by emailing laura@keystonemontessori.com.